The cold wind swept across the peak of Mount Tianfeng, carrying with it a thick fog that hung over the surrounding cliffs. The mist appeared eternal, as if symbolizing the unshakable reign of the Dragon Emperor that had endured for centuries.
Li Xuan, a figure of intimidating authority, stood on the highest peak, his eyes fixed on the horizon. The rising sun cast light on his back, causing his blue robe to flutter gently in the breeze.
Behind him, his ten best disciples stood in a row. They were the next generation, students he had trained from scratch into unrivaled masters.
Li Xuan trusted them completely. For years, they had studied the secrets of cultivation, following every lesson he taught with unwavering loyalty.
But the peaceful atmosphere atop the mountain had grown heavy. Li Xuan could sense a subtle shift in the energy around him, though he had yet to fully grasp its source. The silence felt strange, as if something was about to explode.
"Master, is today the right day to celebrate our victory?"
Liu Feng, his chief disciple, spoke in a calm tone as he stepped forward from the line of disciples.
Li Xuan did not turn. His eyes remained fixed on the distant horizon.
"Today marks the beginning of a new era," he replied, his voice deep and filled with conviction. "This victory is proof that no one can rival us."
Liu Feng gave a faint smile.
"True, Master. But perhaps there is something more important than victory itself."
Li Xuan narrowed his eyes but did not immediately respond. There was something odd in Liu Feng's voice.
"What do you mean, Liu Feng?" he finally asked, still not turning to face him.
Liu Feng took another step forward, standing closer to Li Xuan.
"Master, your power is too great. This world no longer needs you as its ruler."
The words cut through the air, echoing across the mountaintop.
Li Xuan slowly turned, staring directly into Liu Feng's eyes, trying to grasp the meaning behind his statement. His gaze remained calm, but a hidden threat flickered in the depths of his eyes.
"What do you mean by that?" Li Xuan asked sharply, while the other disciples remained silent where they stood.
Liu Feng did not flinch. He raised his chin slightly, looking his master directly in the eye with confidence.
"It's time for us to take over. You've ruled for too long."
Li Xuan heard the hidden intent behind those words. The body that had once been filled with chi energy suddenly felt the weight in the air.
A subtle yet real killing intent. Slowly, Li Xuan cast his gaze over his other disciples, who no longer looked at him with the same respect as before.
It didn't take long for Li Xuan to realize what was happening. He could feel the vibrations of their spiritual energy rising, and in that moment, their betrayal became clear. They were preparing to attack him.
"How dare you..."
Li Xuan's voice was low, his tone cold. His eyes swept over each of his disciples, confirming that all of them were ready to do the same.
Suddenly, Liu Feng moved swiftly. In one motion, he raised his hand high, summoning a flash of purple lightning that struck the air with deadly speed, aiming directly at Li Xuan. The lightning crackled through the air, shaking the entire mountaintop.
But Li Xuan remained calm.
With a single hand movement, he summoned a shield of water from thin air, absorbing the bolt of lightning with ease. Water droplets shimmered in the morning light, creating a serene image that contrasted with the destructive force that had just attempted to annihilate him.
"Betrayal..." Li Xuan muttered softly.
His expression remained cold, but inside, disappointment and anger began to brew.
Liu Feng was unfazed by his failed attack. He smiled coldly.
"I'm sorry, Master. But your time is up," he said without hesitation.
The other disciples began to move, their bodies leaping into the air, surrounding Li Xuan in an attack formation. Their chi energy radiated in all directions, creating a tremendous pressure that enveloped the mountaintop.
Their combined assault came with incredible speed wind, fire, and ice swirling in a vortex of energy aimed to destroy Li Xuan.
Li Xuan moved swiftly, using his Water Flowing Steps technique to dodge the attacks. His body flowed as smoothly as water, barely visible as he evaded blast after blast of energy.
Though he was being betrayed by his own disciples, his face remained calm, undisturbed by the hatred clearly etched on their faces.
"Do you truly believe you can defeat me?"
Li Xuan spoke coldly as he moved through the air. He paused for a moment, raising his hand high into the sky, then unleashed his ultimate technique the Storm Dragon Palm summoning a storm of wind and lightning.
A storm of wind mixed with blue lightning burst from Li Xuan's palm, striking his disciples' formation with immense power.
The lightning and wind hit them, breaking their formation and causing some to stumble backward. But they quickly regained their footing, their attacks growing even more intense.
"We're ready to face your strength, Master."
Liu Feng stood at the forefront of the other disciples, his face full of confidence. The chi energy in his hands grew larger, displaying immense power.
"Today, it all ends."
Li Xuan began to feel fatigue in his body.
The combined assault from his ten best disciples was not something to be taken lightly. Although he was still strong, the relentless barrage of attacks gradually wore down his energy.
However, he wasn't about to give up.
"You've forgotten, I am the Dragon Emperor," he muttered coldly, his anger beginning to surface.
He took a deep breath, raised his hands to the sky, and summoned his final power Dragon's Ascension, a technique that called forth a lightning dragon, the symbol of his unmatched strength.
A massive lightning dragon appeared in the sky, coiling around Li Xuan's body, its electric flashes destroying every attack directed at him.
The dragon roared, unleashing a blast of energy toward the disciples, forcing them to retreat a few steps.
But Li Xuan could feel his body growing weaker. The attacks he launched were beginning to lose their strength.
The wounds inflicted by his disciples' strikes were starting to take their toll, even though his body still stood firm.
"This isn't over..."
Li Xuan spoke with heavy breaths, but his eyes remained filled with determination.
Liu Feng and the other disciples attacked again, this time with a stronger, combined assault.
Their attacks struck the lightning dragon, shattering Li Xuan's final defense. His body was hurled to the ground with a violent crash, blood spilling from his mouth.
Yet, even though his body was broken, his resolve did not waver.
With his last breaths, Li Xuan vowed that he would return, and when he did, none of them would escape his revenge.
Li Xuan collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, fresh blood soaking his once-majestic blue robes. His vision began to blur, but his consciousness and hatred remained sharp. Though his body was shattered, his mind spun with a single goal, revenge.
Liu Feng approached, his gaze filled with victory.
"Master... or rather, former Master. You gave us strength, but now we claim the throne for ourselves," he said, standing over Li Xuan's badly wounded body.
Li Xuan didn't respond. His half-closed eyes stared blankly at the sky, watching the last remnants of his power fade away.
The lightning that had once crackled around his body slowly disappeared. But even as his body succumbed to his injuries, the soul of the Dragon Emperor remained strong.
With the remnants of his strength, Li Xuan tried to speak.
"Take it... take this power... but remember one thing, Liu Feng…" Li Xuan coughed, blood spilling from his mouth.
Liu Feng frowned but continued to listen.
"The power you've stolen through betrayal... will never last," Li Xuan continued, his voice filled with eerie calm. "I will return... and when I do, I will take everything from you."
Liu Feng paused for a moment, then gave a cold smile.
"You will die, Master. No one comes back from death. Especially not after we completely destroy your body," he said with full confidence.
Liu Feng signaled to the other disciples. They began to concentrate their spiritual energy, preparing for the final strike that would completely obliterate Li Xuan's physical form.
Powerful chi energy began to gather above Li Xuan's head, forming a vortex of energy so intense that the air around them trembled.
The disciples, who had once loyally followed Li Xuan's every teaching, were now ready to destroy their master without mercy.
Li Xuan, though lying helpless, gave a faint smile. It wasn't a smile of victory, but one filled with bitterness.
"Fine... but remember this, Liu Feng. Betrayal is always repaid in blood."
And with those final words, the gathered chi vortex was unleashed. A massive explosion struck Li Xuan's body, obliterating everything around him.
The ground at the mountaintop cracked and exploded, creating a large crater where the Dragon Emperor's body once lay.
In an instant, the thick fog that shrouded Mount Tianfeng absorbed the remnants of the explosion, leaving behind a deadly silence.
Liu Feng and the other disciples stared at the aftermath of the blast, ensuring that Li Xuan's body had been completely destroyed. Nothing remained except the swirling dust in the air.
Liu Feng gazed at the barren ground, feeling a sense of relief and satisfaction.
"The end of a Dragon Emperor," he muttered quietly.
But deep in his heart, something felt off. A lingering sense that this wasn't truly over, that Li Xuan's promise of revenge might be more than just empty words. Liu Feng quickly dismissed the thought and led the disciples away from the mountaintop.
They had claimed power. A new era was about to begin, but what they didn't realize was that Li Xuan's soul had been sealed with a promise of vengeance, a seed that would take root in the future.